The result of the match was never in doubt—Siria’s junior squad finished it in three minutes.

  Gladys met them head?on, her longsword tearing through several stacked magic barriers. Hol came in on an angle, seizing a gap to whip an iron pot like a hidden weapon.

  The pot smashed down; the opponents collapsed, clutching their heads. By the time they staggered up, the outcome was sealed.

  With Gladys and Hol withdrawing after their strike, Luo Wei kicked into her rapid?fire Flame Spell, sweeping the field. Axina and Jack worked the flanks with their wands. Fire streaks lanced overhead until it looked like a rain of embers.

  Tapeka’s team was ringed by a sea of wildfire, pressing in so tightly not even smoke could escape. They clutched their throbbing heads, hurriedly chanting a Water Dragon Spell—sadly, a drop in the bucket.

  Siria’s terrifying power left other teams in the stands aghast—and privately grateful it wasn’t their turn.

  Getting cut by a sword was one thing; being knocked out by a cooking pot? That was true humiliation.

  When it ended, Tapeka’s five members were hauled off by logistics staff, while Siria’s team withdrew the moment the referee declared victory.

  Three more pairings followed. Even after the third, St. Teno’s name still hadn’t appeared.

  “They got the bye,” Hol said, glancing toward St. Teno.

  Axina’s gaze was complicated. “Such good luck.”

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  “One bye means one round of stamina saved. St. Teno’s already strong, and they catch a break like this. The heavens really are unfair.”

  Luo Wei’s face stayed calm. “They’re the favored children of the Sun and Moon Gods. Good fortune is a blessing laid on them.”

  Fairness? There’s no such thing.

  Some people are born in Rome; others spend a lifetime walking toward it.

  Most—no matter how they struggle—never arrive.

  What they chase as a finish line is only someone else’s starting line.

  After the morning’s final bout, the professor in charge of drawing lots lifted the lone shard remaining in the jar.

  “St. Teno Divine College—advances!”

  All morning was gone. Siria’s junior squad had their first win, but four more rounds awaited.

  The second round would start at two in the afternoon. Spectators filed out toward the academy dining hall for lunch.

  Luo Wei and her teammates trailed the crowd. They didn’t need to scramble for seats; private rooms on the second floor were reserved for them—one of the perks of competing.

  Fifteen minutes later, all three Siria teams met in the dining hall.

  “How’d the match feel?” Sebastian asked.

  “Isn’t it obvious? Of course we won!” Theodore grumbled at the redundant question.

  The result was plain. With a team this strong, lose? Come on.

  “I wasn’t asking you.” Sebastian looked to Luo Wei.

  “Felt fine,” Luo Wei said modestly. “The first round wasn’t hard. It’ll get tougher later.”

  They entered their private room. The moment they sat, the professors had someone deliver healing potions.

  “We’re not even hurt. Why drink healing potions?”

  Theodore grabbed a vial and tossed it into his cloth pouch. Not drinking—stash and sell later.

  The senior student delivering them hurried to say, “You should. These have Puba Fruit added—it restores stamina. You’ll need strength this afternoon.”

  “Puba Fruit? All right, that stuff is sweet.” Theodore yanked the bottle back out, drank, then smacked his lips. “Still not as good as Sweet Temptation from Escore.”

  Hol snapped his head toward him. “Sweet Temptation costs a gold coin a cup. Senior Theodore, you actually splurged on that?”

  Luo Wei glanced at Hol, then carefully asked, “And how do you know the price so precisely?” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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